“With each events declaring an deadlock in negotiations, with beneficial cargo grounded and passengers stranded, the federal government made the best determination to refer the 2 sides to binding arbitration,” Matthew Holmes, chief of public coverage for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, mentioned in a press release.
WAGE DISPUTE
Whereas probably the most contentious subject was compensation for time spent on the bottom, there was additionally disagreement over broader wage points. The provider had provided a 38 p.c enhance in complete compensation for flight attendants over 4 years, with a 25 p.c elevate within the first yr, which CUPE mentioned was inadequate.
The union has mentioned Air Canada provided to compensate flight attendants for some work that’s now unpaid at 50 p.c of their hourly charge.
A supply near the negotiations instructed Reuters the union was on the lookout for parity on wages with Canadian leisure provider Air Transat. Its flight attendants accepted a contract final yr that offered for complete compounded will increase of 30 p.c over 5 years, making them the very best paid within the trade in Canada.
Air Canada didn’t verify if such a proposal had been put forth by the union.
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada element of CUPE, mentioned in a press convention in Toronto earlier on Saturday that there have been no bargaining classes scheduled between the 2 sides, which have held on-and-off negotiations for months.
Earlier within the day outdoors Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport, the nation’s busiest, a whole lot of cabin crew waved flags, banners and picket indicators. Union officers known as on members to assemble outdoors the entire nation’s main airports, together with in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.
